The Rundown

Obama's Inheritance From Bush -- Headaches

By Ben Pershing
For all of President Obama's desire to change Washington and blaze a trail different from that of his predecessor, the new occupant of the White House is having to spend an awful lot of time dealing with the problems and policies left behind by the old one.

Last week, the Obama administration rolled out -- to mediocre reviews -- its financial rescue plan, a continuation of the controversial bank bailout begun by George W. Bush. This week, it's the auto industry that will be giving the White House headaches. GM is set to ask the federal government for several billion dollars more in federal aid today, after Bush decided back in December to give the big auto companies access to loans rather than forcing them into bankruptcy.

At the time, it seemed as though Bush had done Obama a favor, by choosing to bail out the auto companies rather than punting the decision to the new administration or letting them fail just in time for Obama to inherit an even worse economic mess. It still looks that way today, but that doesn't mean the road ahead will be easy. Obama has already decided to dispense with the Bush administration idea of naming a "car czar," instead choosing to create a panel to guide auto policy. (How much time does the average president spend naming czars, councils and commissions? Let's appoint someone to figure that out.)

Comments

Daylo1, so you spout second- or third-hand conservative drivel. Good for you, if that makes you proud.

My argument hasn't changed, and you haven't responded to it. Go back and look at my first post. You duck, you dodge, you distract, but my critique stands unanswered. In fact, you just keep proving my point.

It's always funny to hear conservatives cite Democrat Harry Truman's motto that "The Buck Stops Here" to argue that Republicans aren't now nor never have been responsible for anything bad. A wee bit unclear on the concept, I think.
Posted by: nodebris | February 17, 2009 12:46 PM
I don't see anything but another lame opinion. There are no facts here. If you would like some sort of response to something you post, how about some facts to a statement. I don’t argue your opinion because quite simply it is just an opinion.

Libs are so predictable. Clinton screwed up BIG time, insisting that prospective buyers be allowed to use their UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS AND WELFARE CHECKS to be listed as part of their income, KNOWING full well they could not afford the home in the first place. It's just so much easier for you, a liberal, to ignore facts and accuse someone else of not answering your opinion.

The facts remain true even if you consider them second or third hand drivel… This was widely reported by the media, not conservatives. If you call that drivel, then you must call all reporting drivel. That too leaves you without a response to the facts. It’s just another easy out for you.

Posted by: Daylo1 | February 19, 2009 9:09 AM

Daylo1, so you spout second- or third-hand conservative drivel. Good for you, if that makes you proud.

My argument hasn't changed, and you haven't responded to it. Go back and look at my first post. You duck, you dodge, you distract, but my critique stands unanswered. In fact, you just keep proving my point.

Posted by: nodebris | February 18, 2009 2:57 PM

For the record, Bush also said that trading Sammy Sosa was a mistake.

Posted by: JakeD | February 17, 2009 9:36 PM

I'm not going to argue economic policy with people who can only repeat what Rush and Hannity tell them. Talk about a waste of breath!

I am going to note the grotesque hypocrisy of people that dare to bring up Truman's "Buck Stops Here" example to defend a president who after eight years found his only mistake was to stand in front of a "Mission Accomplished" sign -- and even then tried to deflect responsibility for the sign onto the sailors.

Pssst. I don't listen to Rush and I don't listen to Hannity. What's your argument now?

Posted by: Daylo1 | February 17, 2009 7:05 PM

I'm not going to argue economic policy with people who can only repeat what Rush and Hannity tell them. Talk about a waste of breath!

I am going to note the grotesque hypocrisy of people that dare to bring up Truman's "Buck Stops Here" example to defend a president who after eight years found his only mistake was to stand in front of a "Mission Accomplished" sign -- and even then tried to deflect responsibility for the sign onto the sailors.

You guys just aren't qualified to talk about responsibility.

Posted by: nodebris | February 17, 2009 5:44 PM

Barry Obasama is getting exactly what ANY Dimocrat deserves-When, you consider it was the Dimocrats who pioneered all the problems in the first place!

Then, Pahleeze!

Bushie inherited an IPO Bubble bursting, a Nation turned Rabid due to a contested Election-That had a Lawyer Snit Lose the First Count, LOSE the second Count, LOSE THE THIRD COUNT, The Overseas Vote, AND the Military Vote(The Commander in Chief Wannabe did not want to even allow!);

ALL to finally have to make the Supreme Court tell the Jack### HE LOST!

HEllllllooooo Nodebris. Aren't you going to reply to the fact that Clinton pressure lenders to make bad loans to people who couldn't afford them? He weakened the system and allowed those prospective buyers to use their unemployment checks as part of their income. Oh yes, I almost forgot, he also allowed them to use their WELFARE CHECKS as part of their listed income to buy homes.

Not Clinton's fault? How pray tell is this NOT Clinton's fault?

Posted by: Daylo1 | February 17, 2009 3:39 PM

As if on cue, Daylo1 steps up to offer a tendentious explanation of why the current situation is all Clinton's fault, and to wonder -- oblivious to the irony -- why Democrats can't seem to accept blame for anything.

Posted by: nodebris | February 17, 2009 2:26 PM
*************************************
And you, as if on cue repsond like a marionette who is being manipulated by the Democratic Party with no facts whatsoever, only the same old tired and over-used ploy of your intellectualism versus my ignorance. "Tut, tut, tut...these ridiculous conservatives. They just don't get it..." The irony of this whole farce you call a presidency has not been lost on me. Trust me. You asked for him. You begged for him and now you have him. What will you do with him? He is already out of control.

Have I stated fact or fiction here? Clinton pressured the lenders to make loans, which included allowing them to use their unemployment checks as income. True our False, Sweetheart? True or False? If no one stops the buck, then no one is to blame, is that it? Just blame the game of changing the subject about how I am blaming someone. I am only stating the facts as they are known, while you continue on your merry-go-round of blame with absolutely none, nada, zilch one single fact to refute my statement.

Posted by: Daylo1 | February 17, 2009 2:53 PM

As if on cue, Daylo1 steps up to offer a tendentious explanation of why the current situation is all Clinton's fault, and to wonder -- oblivious to the irony -- why Democrats can't seem to accept blame for anything.

Posted by: nodebris | February 17, 2009 2:26 PM

It's always funny to hear conservatives cite Democrat Harry Truman's motto that "The Buck Stops Here" to argue that Republicans aren't now nor never have been responsible for anything bad. A wee bit unclear on the concept, I think.

Posted by: nodebris | February 17, 2009 12:46 PM

******************************************
The whining is deafening from the Dem's isn't? They have been in change of congress since two years BEFORE Bush left office and they STILL want to blame him for everything. Nevermind that all of the mortgage woes are a direct cause from the Clinton administration's insistence of providing loans to low income people, insisting that banks could make loans based on unemployment benefits as part of their income. How about that buck? It should have never, I repeat never been put into circulation in the first place. If you go to the ROOT of a problem and kill it there, there is no problem.

Posted by: Daylo1 | February 17, 2009 1:58 PM

It's always funny to hear conservatives cite Democrat Harry Truman's motto that "The Buck Stops Here" to argue that Republicans aren't now nor never have been responsible for anything bad. A wee bit unclear on the concept, I think.

Posted by: nodebris | February 17, 2009 12:46 PM

Great minds think alike.

Posted by: JakeD | February 17, 2009 12:38 PM

I don't recall the WaPo complaining like this about Carter once Reagan took over. What ever happened to "The Buck Stops Here"?

Posted by: JakeD | February 17, 2009 12:33 PM

Unfortunately, there's not a man among you. Whiny bunch of pantywaists. Always blaming everything on Bush, just like a couple of mother's boys on the playground, whining "Unfair! Unfair! I'm telling on you!" None of you have the testosterone or the backbone to stand up and admit that the Buck Stops Here, do you? We certainly have heard nothing from the leader of the free world about moving forward and not looking back. In fact, he likes to live in the Depression Era and use that as a club against his foes. In all fairness though, he hasn't really had time to work, just makes passing comments about inheriting woes and troubles, etc. etc. He's been busy enjoying the good life, Camp David, Chicago restaurants - disrupting Valentine's Day dinners of the common people like a Rock Star high on himself; flying all the way to Colorado to sign a bill. How symbolic...of what? Just wants to see and be seen. Campaigning to friendly crowds...what a set up. It is so obvious to the naked eye. That's your leader.

Where's freakin' Harry Truman when you need him? Men. Real men. They used to exist in a land far, far away.

Who killed all the men in this country? What a misterable bunch of examples of humanity "metrosexuals" we have running this country.